Time between prepping and temporary veneers?

Question

I’m receiving porcelain veneers, but I’ve already got nice teeth. With that being said, my dentist has asked me to come in to have my teeth prepped for the temporaries, but the lab won’t have the wax up/temporaries ready for at least a week. I’m concerned about having prepped teeth for so long, but she said it’s fine since it will be minimal prep and that they need to be prepped to create the mold for the wax up. Can someone help me out with some reassurance or tips etc?

Doug Jopling, DDS · Answer

If you learn about and consider choosing the VERY CONSERVATIVE technique of Minimal-Prep or No-Prep veneers which does not require the teeth to be ground down like conventional veneers, you will not have any exposed dentin and will not need temporaries. Even with Minimal-Prep veneers  which can be done with Lumineers or eMax porcelain or other systems, so little tooth structure is removed in such a way that temporaries are not needed esthetically or functionally in most cases.I spend a lot of consultation time, and I take many photos of my patient prior to preparing the teeth. I create digital renditions and any drawings of the case based on what the patient desires. I communicate ALL of this information to my lab technicians and have them send me photos of the case as they are working on it. I have them make any necessary modifications if it is not the way the patient and I have discussed.  Before these Conservative, Thin-Veneers of the Minimal or No-Prep variety are bonded, I always have the patient look and offer their opinion on how they feel about the size,shape and color.  I then place some try-in paste of the color that will be used to show what the color will look like once bonded into place. If the patient wants to go lighter or darker, I can change the cement up or down in brightness. If the patient is ever concerned with the shape size or color, the veneers are sent back to the lab for modification.  Additional photos are taken with these setting on the teeth to be able to show the things that would be modified. This is a rare occurrence, and easy to place them on for viewing without having to remove temporary first.  The tissues also stay healthier when a temporary is not used.In some cases, I will have the lab technician do a wax-up and review that with the patient.  I have used the technique in the proceeding paragraph in thousands of veneers done and patients have been very pleased. By using this conservative technique and not grinding so much tooth structure away as has to be done with the conventional method other dentists use, I do not have to bond on a temporary which can adversely affect the final bond of the permanent veneers.  This technique also does not require needles and anesthetic most of the time.You are near by to me, and I would be happy to provide you with a free consultation and explain further how this conservative technique in the proper hands may help you:  1. Save your tooth structure 2. Eliminate the shots and 3. have a great new smile if you desire to make a change to yours.While I perform both types of veneers, most patients choose the more conservative type after hearing the benefits of them and how they can avoid the undesirable factors of standard, conventional veneers.I hope to get to meet you soon,Doug Jopling, DDS

Neil Hadaegh, DDS · Answer

Absolutely. I understand your concerns. 
Typically, an impression is taken with your unprepped teeth and the dental lab will then create the mold for your temporaries and wax up prior to preparation. The dental lab will then take the mold of your unprepped teeth, pour it up in stone and do a cut back themselves to allow them to wax up the model. After an initial impression is taken of the unprepped teeth, it takes typically a week or two to receive the mold for the temporaries and wax up. After the teeth are prepared and placed in temporaries, it takes about 2 weeks for the delivery of your final veneers.
Just as well, it’s not a good idea to leave prepped teeth without temporaries as the preparations can fracture and/or you may have sensitivity. The only exception are prepless veneers where the teeth are not prepped.
I would definitely address these concerns with your dentist. 
Best of luck!
Dr. Neil Hadaegh
#beverlyhillsdentist
#cosmeticdentist

Marty Lindahl, DDS · Answer

Hi,
I do the prep the same day as you get your temporary veneers. The wax-up and smile design is done before any prepping is done. It's difficult to prep/remove tooth structure when you haven't designed the case/final design. Hope this helps!
Bests!
Dr. Marty W. Lindahl

Arthur Glosman, DDS · Answer

Hello,

If the lab is making temps for you based on the wax up that was previously done, then the temporaries should be ready on the same day you prep your teeth. Therefore, technically there is no need to wait any longer than it would take the lab to make your permanent veneers which could be one to two weeks. You can do it the way your dentist is suggesting but it just takes longer. The way your dentist is suggesting is not incorrect. Every dentist has their own way and there own techniques that work best for them. Your teeth will be fine either way especially if there minimally preped.

Best,
Dr Glosman

Michael D. Kosdon, DDS · Answer

If you like your teeth, and just want some minor enhancements than minimal prep veneers are a great option. Many times with these veneers, little to no tooth structure is removed thus not leaving any room for temporary veneers. Anything placed over the teeth other than thin porcelain will be too bulky and not represent accurately what porcelain looks like. 
Normally we start with diagnostic impressions, then have a wax up made, followed by porcelain. The wax up is used as a guide to what the final veneers will look like. 
I recommend sitting down with your dentist to make sure the two of you are on the same page with regards to the steps in treatment and the outcome.

Time between prepping and temporary veneers?

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Time between prepping and temporary veneers?

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